Audi's A6 range gets a midlife upgrade

Audi’s A6 has received a mid-life freshen up to keep it competitive with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. On top of the styling tweaks, Audi has given the A6 range a more efficient set of petrol and diesel engines, all of which meet Euro 6 emissions targets.

The A6 has always been a handsome car, and Audi is hoping its"sharp lines" and "athletically taut surfaces" will keep it looking fresh. For the refresh, Ingolstadt’s designers have made changes to the car’s front and rear lights, along with the bumpers, grille and side-skirts.

The A6 has also been put on a diet, with weight savings coming from wider use of hot-shaped steel and aluminum, as well as the production debut of fiberglass reinforced plastic springs.

Depending on your preference, power is supplied by a range of three petrol and five diesel engines that emit up to 22 percent less CO2 than those they replace. The petrol engines range in output from 140 kW (190 hp) and 245 kW (333 hp), with the best economy figures coming from the turbocharged 1.8-liter FSI "ultra", which produces just 133 g/km of CO2 while consuming 5.7 l/100km of fuel (41.3 mpg).

On the diesel front, power hungry owners can spec a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine producing either 160 kW (218 hp) or 240 kW (326 hp), but environmentally conscious buyers will be drawn to the turbocharged 2.0-liter motor, which uses a miserly 4.2 l/100km (56 mpg) of fuel and emits only 109 g/km of CO2.

Similarly to its A7 sibling, the A6 Competition TDI will take advantage of a brief overboost to push the 245 kW diesel engine to 255 kW (342 hp).

All engines are available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed S Tronic gearbox expect for the range topping diesel, which comes standard with an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox.

Audi has also updated its A6 Avant, which packs all the same features as the sedan into a body that can take 565 liters (20 cubic feet) of luggage with the seats up, or 1680 liters (59.3 cubic feet) with the seats folded flat. The boot can be accessed through an optional sensor-controlled auto tailgate.

If you need some extra ride height Audi also offers the Avant in Allroad trim, which uses a raised body, steel-lined plates at the front and rear and air suspension to provide the A6 Avant with some extra off-road credentials. Power comes from a 3.0-liter petrol, or one of three 3.0-liter TDI engines.

On the inside, design changes have been minimal. Infotainment is controlled by the German manufacturer's familiar MMI system, which can be optioned with an 8-inch retractable screen, powered by a Nvidia Tegra 30 processor. If owners spec the Audi connect module, an LTE connection provides online connection and streaming apps.

The A6's high tech interior is matched by the range of driver aids Audi is offering on the new A6. Blind spot warning is coupled with lane keeping assist and Radar cruise control is also available, which controls the car's speed in stop/start traffic.

Deliveries of the new A6 begin in the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn, with pricing set to kick off at €38,400 (US$49,735) for the 1.8-liter petrol A6 Sedan.